Everyone's doing yoga these days, and there's good reason: It's not only
really good for you, but it's a
low-intensity exercise that has incredible benefits for strength, balance,
endurance, and flexibility. Yoga has been practiced for centuries for its
therapeutic effects on a number of ailments. Proven health benefits of yoga
include improved cardiovascular function, fewer digestive problems, better
joint health, and improved blood circulation. Mental health benefits include
reduced stress and anxiety and increased feelings of wellbeing and calm.

Pilates is a yoga method influenced by yoga, calisthenics, and ballet
that combines postures and stretches with controlled breathing and mindful
awareness of the body. It's been around since the 1920s, when trainer Joseph
Pilates developed it as a way to help injured dancers and athletes maintain
fitness during recovery. Whether you're injured or not, Pilates has distinctive
benefits for your overall health. Here are seven of them.

It improves flexibility
and range of motion. Pilates involves stretches
and postures that lengthen and stretch all the major muscle groups in a
balanced way. This promotes optimal flexibility and range of motion for better
mobility and reduced pain.

It improves muscle
strength. The Pilates method
utilizes body weight for strength training. From planks, squats, and
abdominal-strengthening postures to mat work with resistance equipment, Pilates
works all your muscles during a single 45- to 90-minute session.

It increases your body
awareness. Pilates requires intense
focus and concentration as you move through the various postures and stretches.
During Pilates, your attention is on each pose and how it feels throughout the
body. You're focused on your breath and how it helps you transition to new
poses and exert the strength and balance you need to hold it. This increases
your awareness of your body, which can positively impact your life in a variety
of ways.

It improves your
posture. With better body awareness comes better
posture. You begin to be aware when your shoulders are sagging or when your
core isn't engaged. Good posture requires core strength, and greater strength
and flexibility in your back, abs, and other major muscle groups helps you hold
your body in healthier ways.

It improves coordination
and balance. Pilates requires a great
deal of balancing and properly coordinating each movement. This improves your
overall balance and coordination, which plays a role in your posture and helps
prevent falls and injuries.

It helps you manage
stress. Pilates puts an important focus on breathing
and being aware of your body and mind in the present moment. This is a form of
meditation that has been shown to help reduce stress. It can even help improve
the way your body responds to stress in the future. A regular Pilates practice
can help you stay mindful of your breathing throughout the day, which helps
reduce stress hormones and promote feelings of calmness and wellbeing.

It's suitable for
everyone. Anyone can do Pilates.
Like other yoga practices, Pilates is highly individualized. Classes are
suitable for beginners and advanced practitioners alike, and each movement has
numerous variations to account for injuries, range of motion issues, mobility
problems, and other limitations.

If you're ready to get fit, give Pilates a try. It's a workout that
leaves your mind and body feeling flexible and energized.